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    Do not be afraid to say what you think that way we can all be encouraged and perhaps edified. No I will not be discourage by anything you might say I am much too far  down the path of life to entertain such negative thoughts, well most of the time anyway?
    The essays are all my own work but that is not to say someone else has not had things to say on the same subject and perhaps said it better.  Some of what I have written may seem more like a synopsis than an essay, which is probably fair comment; be my guest. I am quite terse as you will soon discover and that may not be to the liking of some, can I suggest you read my preface before you go any further?

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Preface
          
        It seems to me that writing anything, whatever its subject matter inevitably carries with it the notion that it is an original. An original plot, a new narrative, a unique concept or something that has not been expressed in literary form before; this is the first time. In principle of course that is true; no two of us are likely to express ourselves in precisely the same way, not on any subject. Then again, just how original is anything that we write or indeed “originate”?
        The Preacher in the Old Testament said, “There is nothing new under the sun”, Ecclesiastes 1: 9. That is to say, since the days of creation God has made nothing new. In a similar vein I think when we write about a matter while we will express it differently nevertheless it has in all probably been said before.
        The humble “life story” has a unique flavor to it that can captivate and enthrall and yet for all that is simply a series of events and emotional experiences very few of which are unique. Emotionally that is certainly true, of events - well there too they may be confined to a select few, but they are in the main a shared experience nevertheless. The wonder of a life story well told is the unique random nature of emotions and experiences.
        Then again did Albert Einstein or Thomas Edison or Sir Isaac Newton have original ideas and reveal new concepts? New to the then scientific world perhaps but not new since they had always been there just undiscovered. New ideas and concepts can only be newly discovered or expressed, only at creation were they original; man merely discovers, never invents! Even the artist when he/she originates a piece of work, merely assembles pre-existing materials and expresses pre-existing thoughts and ideas. Thoughts and ideas that are in the first instance an expression of who we are and who we are in turn dictates our thoughts.
        We do not manufacture who we are and we do not originate our thought patterns except that they are a spontaneous expression of our subconscious psyche. Of course each psyche is unique but it is neither self-manufactured nor is it conscious and it is in all respects spontaneous. Everything we do is a reaction; our thinking may be blinkered or outside the square but it will always be in response to a conscious or unconscious external prompt.
        From the Christian stand point no doubt on occasions God our Heavenly Father does have cause to chastise us as individuals that we might not participate in the lot of the ungodly. Nevertheless, all that God does for you and me His children whether directly through supposed circumstance or via the instruction of His word is supremely designed by a loving and caring God that we might walk the most blessed path in this life. Thus as God’s beloved children we have a choice, we can walk the most blessed and joyful path or we can ‘do it the hard way’ as they say.
        I have been at pains to stress through my essays, that only under exceptional circumstances will our loving Father force us to do anything. In my experience almost always He will bring to our attention the most blessed path to take, not the easiest, not the least painful or most comfortable but without question what He will suggest to you and me, will be the most blessed and so fruitful path to tread.
        My essays are just one man’s view - how can they be anything else - a view massaged by life and thus who I am; an expression of who I have become, enjoy!

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 CHRISTIAN:

A Christian  "When you say you are a Christian, have you ever pondered, "am I in fact what I claim to be?"

All One  "Not only so but it was also argued that the passage also eliminates all cultural distinctions between the sexes?"

All One in Christ Jesus  "To misquote something published is to put a wrong interpretation or understanding on it,..."

A Thousand Years  "Justice and mercy will be administered side by side with the highest standards of morality, for the first time in the history of mankind.”

A Worm  "It seems to me we may say that the experiences of the saints of old were legitimately and in the first instance the experiences of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Abraham  "The strength and power of God’s emotions towards Abraham expressed so simply in these few words is almost tangible.”

Academic  "You and I, I think, are too often being asked to buy cheap academic bread; essentially that which purports to be spiritual food but which does not come from our Heavenly Father. It comes too often in fact from the darkened and corrupt mind of man.”

Afraid  "Why is it that when we are called to account for our responsibilities or something we did which was wrong? When confronted with the choice of admitting to the truth or lying, why do we immediately think to lie?”

Authors  "Were they simply written by men and later blessed by the Holy Spirit to become the Holy Bible? Or was each writer influence by the Holy Spirit in such a way that what resulted was a melding of inspiration and the personal character of the author, integrated with the events and social conditions of the day?”

Bare Foot  "On just two occasions those spoken to were saked to remove their sandals because the place where they stood was declared to be 'holy ground'".

Bible Study   "If we are to be taught in the scriptures then surely it would not be unreasonable  to say, he who teaches us must of necessity be a God ordained Teacher?"

Career "After some time looking at the various aircraft parked out on the grass, I finally wandered into a hangar where maintenance to a Tiger Moth was being carried out"

Changed  "I met a man who claimed he was a Christian and who proceeded to introduce me to Christianity but in a way that I had never heard it before."

Choice  "That is exactly the situation confronting every man or woman who refuses to make the decision to spend eternity in a state of conscious life but continues in their present state of death.”

Christian Literature   "We are constantly assailed by material written by the eminent people of our day and of yester-year who in all sincerity tried to set forth in as clear terms as possible what it is that will cure all our ills.”

Christmas  "As we become engulfed yet again, I am asking myself once more how do I feel about Christmas, what to me are the rights and the wrongs of what for some is the most expensive month of the year.”

Conversation  "Is it simply a call to Christians to watch their language; not just to avoid profanity but to be constructive and kind with the words we use?".

      Christmas Too  "In its own peculiar way Christmas brings with it emotions, attitudes and excesses that are not found in society at any other time of the year".

Church and State "The society that denies the influence of religion is dangerously unintelligent of its social environment.”

Conditional Love  "My love for another may be of the most sublime kind with out demand or reservation, yet that is but half of the equation.”

Decisions  "Clearly when confronted with the need to decide on an issue, there will always be at least two ways to go, and very often it will appear there are more than just two.”

Discernment  "The matter of the Communion Table or the Lord’s Table continues to generate controversy...”

Divisions "While the activities of Satan are indefensible, it must be acknowledged he did not manufacture all the ingredients for controversy and argument, some elements were handed to him on a platter.”

Doubt  "Sadly, as the Church has groped its way forward, ignorance and or unbelief particularly in respect of the Scriptures have provided the perfect ingredients to combine with spiritual lethargy to incite untold confusion.”

Dumbing Down   "I think it can be applied to any situation in any society where people are encouraged (or forced) to live their lives at odds with who they are and thus well below their potential."

Easter  "One authority has it that Easter was the word used in the Germanic language to denote the festival of the said ‘vernal or spring equinox’, which annual event was brought about by or associated with the position of the Sun.”

Enemies  "Danger signs are not always obvious to everyone but the instant we become aware that all may not be as it seems the body language quickly changes from curiosity to fear.”

Fears  "To make good decisions ideally we will need to remain calm and not allow our fear and apprehension to cloud our decision making process.”

Fear the word  "It is quite certain then that fear is the one human factor that in every circumstance will inevitably raise its ugly head and play its part."

Free Will  "Adam and Eve’s taking and eating of the forbidden fruit described in Genesis. This we are led to believe has all the hallmarks of two human beings, the first human beings, exercising their free will."

First Principles  "Put that another way, the very first and primary fact that must be comprehended by all mankind is that the material universe - and that includes you and me - was created by God."

Giants  "Nevertheless as I have said elsewhere God never forces his Children to do anything".

Giving   "In the matter of giving as with ever other sapect of our life, it is vital that we discover and experience what it is that pleases our Lord".

God  "It is evident from John's experience that God has his own peculiar form and characteristics that in that sense are peculiar to Him".

God's Character  "We might say, then, that God has provided man with a triple confirmation of His presence, of His majesty, His power and benevolence.”

He Spoke  "It is an interesting phenomenon that when ever the Lord Jesus Christ is portrayed in movies, the only words the actor is given to speak are those recorded in the Bible.”

Help Meet  "The very existence of Eve and her relationship to Adam in marriage also created the first mutually dependent union.”

How It Was  "We have been pre-programmed to follow the leader, to obey the dictates of the planned order of service and the one leading the service because that is how it is done."

Inexplicable  "In the matter we are discussing it seems to me the argument that stress of itself does not cause trauma, we do, contains little more than an atom of truth."

Man  "To finally having to submit to the ultimate indignity, death,..."

Miner's Story  "He says that in a moment he was working underground then suddenly he found himself standing on the bank of a river and two strange looking men were approaching him."

            My Top Ten   "Nevertheless the incident started me thinking about what I would list as my most favoured ten texts?"

Obedience  "The final necessary ingredient to the construction of the ark was Noah’s obedience to God’s words."

Obscenity "It is indeed a sad fact that much of the narrative and poetry of the Bible is a melancholy recital of man’s folly; intermingled with the story of a loving and caring Gods’ gentle chiding and shepherding toward a happier state."

Opinions   "Of course it goes without saying I was almost completely ignorant of what had motivated the question."

Perseverance  "One major difficulty confronted us however and I confess it had me more than a little concerned."

Poor   "In the life of evry Christian there are things we should do and there are people we should love, the operative word being should."

Praise  "Perhaps we do not know it but praise to God takes many forms and is not just a matter of singing or speaking His virtues, although they are of course the usual of expressing praise."

Preachers  "For you see in any situation or circumstance until we find the courage to use the precise words..."

Saints  "It goes without saying that we will have to meet the prescribed criteria..."

Salvation  "Assuredly we have been rescued from sin’s consequences and we are secure for eternity but as long as we live this life much, much more is required of us who are God’s Children."

Second Blessing  "At this point we should establish some facts about what the Scriptures do tell us concerning the involvement of the Holy Spirit with the Believer."

Sin  "What we suggest is that such concepts and there are many more like them, are little more than wishful thinking."

Snow  "If we accept that in temporal terms nothing can be whiter than snow,..."

Spiritual Sight  "On reflection it seems to me now that as with many matters in life, on the matter of spiritual truth first we gain a purely academic understanding;..."

The First Day  "Now we should ask the question what exactly does the Hebrew word Sabbath mean?"

The Obedience of Faith  "When we understand the nature of sin, I think we should be able see the nature of faith, saving faith."

Thy Word is Truth  "Because of his estrangement from his Creator God, fear has become the Achilles heel of every man. His separation from God is the headwaters of his river of fear."

True or False  "Ideas can be abstract, fanciful, factual and downright bizarre but inevitably I think they find their way under one of these two headings, true or false."

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REAL LIFE:

Back to School  "For my part I had reached that place with my job where there seemed little more to achieve, all the challenges had been met and dealt with successfully."

Flying and Me  "Of course there was the odd occasion when I refused to fly, like the time an inexperienced owner asked if I would like to go on a short test flight with him.”

Father's Letter  "Very largely most of us think we have a pretty good handle on what it is that would make us happy."

Van Nyugen  "Clearly, when the media and the so-called Christian community takes an occasion like the tragic death of Van Nyugen and extracts maximum mileage for their own commercial or political ends,..."

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FICTION: